The final roster decision Nate Oats was waiting for was Labaron Philon, who on Monday decided to enter the 2025 NBA Draft. It remains to be seen whether he is keeping the door open to potentially return to Alabama if his NBA feedback isn't what he hopes for, but based on his comments, it appears the door could be shut on his return.
Philon's decision leaves Alabama with 10 roster spots filled and three open spots. The Tide has seen four players enter the Transfer Portal: Naas Cunningham, Mo Dioubate, Jarin Stevenson, and Derrion Reid. Alabama also saw four players exhaust their eligibility, leaving just four returning players from last season's roster and only two who played meaningful minutes from December on.
Aden Holloway and Aiden Sherrell contributed down the stretch, but both Latrell Wrightsell and Houston Mallette were lost to season-ending injuries. Alabama added Noah Williamson, Taylor Bol Bowen, and Jalil Bethea so far in the Transfer Portal and has three incoming freshmen.
With Philon's decision, a lead guard becomes priority one for Oats in the portal. For now, Holloway is the only true lead guard on the roster, and even he performed much better in an off-ball role for the Crimson Tide last season. Wrightsell and Bethea are combo guards who can handle the ball in a pinch, but both are more comfortable off the ball.
So where does Alabama turn from here? The Transfer Portal is open for another week, so there could still be players who enter from here, especially with Oats' history in developing guards, making a lead guard in Tuscaloosa an extremely desirable position.
For now, here's a few players Alabama could potentially target.
Alabama's potential Labaron Philon replacements currently in the Transfer Portal
It has been pretty quiet on the Transfer Portal hunt for the Crimson Tide recently, despite the open roster spots. That has been strategic by Oats, Preston Murphy, and the rest of the staff.
Where Alabama goes from here remains to be seen. They had some contact with Jacksonville State's Jaron Pierre Jr., but he committed to SMU on Monday night.
Here's a few players who Alabama could potentially target:
- Barrington Hargress, UC Riverside
- Jestin Porter, Middle Tennessee State
- Amaree Abram, Louisiana Tech
- Mike Mitchell Jr., Minnesota
- Bryce Linday, James Madison
- Martin Somerville, UMass Lowell
- Devin Askew, Long Beach State
- Chase Forte, South Dakota State
Alabama has been linked with Rylan Griffen in the Transfer Portal, but the former Crimson Tide guard is a wing, not a lead guard. I think it's more likely than not at this point that Griffen ends up back in Tuscaloosa with one of Alabama's three open roster spots.
I imagine Alabama will take Griffen and a lead guard that isn't yet in the portal. Then, that other spot could ultimately be held if they think there's a chance Philon returns. If not, Alabama might take another hybrid 4/5 as they could use another big body.